Effect of Probucol, Pantethine and Their Combinations on Serum Lipoprotein Metabolism and on the Incidence of Atheromatous Lesions in the Rabbit

Effect of probucol. pantethine and their combinations on serum lipoprotein metabolism and on the incidence of atheromatous lesions in aorta and coronary artery was studied in cholesterol-fed rabbits. Probucol ireatment (0.5% in diet) resulted in reducing HDL cholesterol and serum apo A-l levels significantly, while paniethine treatment (0.25%–0.75% in diet) tended to increase HDL cholesterol and serum apo A-l levels. Combined treatment with these two drugs showed a significant prevention in the reduction of HDL cholesterol and serum apo A-l levels by probucol alone. Probucol or pantethine treatment reduced effectively (V)LDL cholesterol and serum apo B levels, and these effects were accelerated additively when the two drugs were given concurrently. Atheromatous lesions in aorta and coronary artery in cholesterol-fed rabbits were prevented by the treatment with probucol (0.5% in diet) or pantethine (0.75% in diet) for 24 weeks. The combined treatment with these two drugs showed more marked prevention than either drug alone. From these findings, it is concluded that the combined treatment of probucol with pantethine is effective for improvement of serum lipoprotein disorders and for prevention of the incidence of atheromatous lesions in aorta and coronary artery in cholesterol-fed rabbits.